Hi everyone!


Long time, no see. If this is your first time here my name is Kat. I took a hiatus from the world of blogging due to my university studies. Since then I have graduated with a degree in Kinesiology, gotten my yoga teacher certification, and started a Youtube channel!
I have recently started a second degree in Education and plan on becoming a physical education and health teacher.





This blog has always stayed close to my heart since I still love creating healthy and delicious desserts. A couple things happened the last year that inspired me start my blog back up again including meeting a successful blogger during an event and talking about using blogs in one of my university classes. I'm still a busy university student but my life has settled a little and I think now this is the best time to blog again! Plus I have a new fancy camera to take photos :)


Today I give you an oatmeal cookie recipe! These cookies are deliciously crispy and chewy with just the right amount of sweetness. They go perfectly with a cup of tea or milk. Enjoy!

I'm baccck! How time flies by! I can't believe that its been so long since my last post.
So sorry to leave you guys. I missed blogging but life as a busy university student called.





I do have some exciting things to fill you in on! Last summer I went on a month long study abroad in Seoul, South Korea. It was an awesome experience! I loved Korea and really enjoyed my time there. My favorite music is kpop (bit of an obsession really) so I really enjoyed hearing all the kpop being blasted out from everywhere. Any other kpop fans out there?

Namsan Tower

Me doing archery at Suwon Fortress

As you know I loooove peanut butter! It is seriously my most favorite thing in the world. You can pretty much eat it with anything and it tastes good! I also really like coconut and I think one of the best peanut butter combinations you can make is with coconut! The slightly salty and rich taste of peanut butter pairs perfectly with creamy and sweet coconut!

Peanut butter, coconut oil, and coconut sugar

Today I give you a delicious and healthy cookie recipe with just that: peanut butter and coconut. They have a wonderful coconut aroma and are packed with everything coconut! These have to be one of my personal favorite cookies that I've created and if you don't give them a shot, you are missing out!



Peanut Butter and Coconut Cookies
adapted from here
Makes 24

3/4 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1 cup coconut sugar (may use brown sugar)
1 tbsp chia seed mixed with 3 tbsp water (stir and allow this to sit at least 5 minutes)
1 tbsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour*
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup shredded coconut (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Beat together peanut butter and coconut oil until smooth and combined
2. Add coconut sugar, chia seeds, and vanilla extract. Beat until everything is combined and there are no visible clumps of sugar.
3. Carefully stir in flour,cinnamon, and baking soda
4. Stir in shredded coconut
5. Shape dough into balls and flatten slightly on baking tray
6. Bake 8-10 minutes until the edges are slightly golden brown but the center is still soft to touch
7. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking tray before transferring

*Can use whole wheat, white, or any flour of your choosing. I used a gluten free mix in these cookies

I've had peanut butter and pickle sandwiches (surprisingly tasty) and I've also mixed peanut butter with rice

Hey guys!

My birthday was this week and of course I created myself some extra delicious cupcakes to celebrate!

I turned the big 2-0 this week!
I know oh my gosh, I'm so old
I feel sad to leave 19 behind as 9 and 19 are my favorite numbers.





I can't believe I have been on this planet for two whole decades. I certainly don't feel that old and I'm blessed to have had a good life for the most part.



This year has been full of so many exciting things for me. I have made many new friends, joined and became an exec for a couple uni clubs, worked at an amazing part-time job, learned new and exciting things in my classes, and have grown to be a better and more confident person.

Of course this year did have its downsides. Due to all of the exciting things I've been involved in, I found myself extremely busy and stressed. Sleep was neglected, I was eating poorly, gained weight, my stress levels were through the roof, and at one point I was a very unhappy person.

Sorry about the bad photos. I was too eager to eat my cupcakes to care about lighting!

Thankfully, since my classes have ended I came to realize this and have been working to fix it. So far I feel that I have been doing a good job but I still have a way to go. My goal for this year is to make sure this doesn't happen again which may require letting go of some things.

I have a lot to look forward this year, including a trip I will be leaving for tomorrow! I promise to let you know about it when I come back.

Until then I hope you enjoy these delicious cupcakes.
I modified the cupcakes from Vegan Cupcakes take over the World and the frosting was largely adapted from the recipe here.
I found an almond cashew butter at my local grocer and decided to try that in the frosting but you can of course use any nut butter.
Hope you enjoy this recipe and that you are having a very merry un-birthday if it isn't you aren't celebrating your own birthday today!


Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes with Almond Butter Frosting
12

I have been gone for so long! I wish I could tell you that I was on some amazing adventure but sadly I was busy with school, work, and my extracurricular activities.

It was fun but busy!


If you have been busy as I have I'm sure you'll appreciate today's recipe as its easy, quick, and requires no oven. In my opinion the best thing about these is that you can eat them right away! This is a perfect summer treat to nourish you through day and keep you cool. They are also raw and deliciously healthy so really you have no reason not to make them!



Spiced Raw Chocolate Oat Spheres
30-40 spheres depending on size

3 cups oats
2 cups shredded coconut
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 tsp fresh orange zest
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cinnamon
Pinch salt
1/4 cup agave syrup
1/4 cup warmed coconut oil
1/2 cup water

1. Mix dry ingredients into a bowl
2. Mix agave with coconut oil and water and pour over the dry ingredients
3. Mix well until coated
4. Using your hands, form balls with the raw oat mixture and set onto a tray or plate
5. You can let the balls set in the fridge or eat right away! They taste great if you let them set

I also added some chocolate chips but that's completely optional

I have noticed that there seems to be a lack of cupcake recipes on Cupcake Kat. This is something I hope to correct because I do love cupcakes. I think I just make muffins more as they are like cupcakes but for breakfast.

These cookies are the best I've ever had! I think I have made at least four batches of these in just a month!
And that's saying something considering I hardly ever make the same recipe twice.

I know that many of you out there have made a resolution to be healthier in 2012. Popular resolutions always include eating better, exercising more, and losing weight. I think these are great resolutions which can help you live a healthier life. The trouble is many people lose sight of these goals as the year moves forward.

New Years is always a bittersweet time for me. I get really excited about the idea of a new beginning but I also feel sad about leaving another year behind. Sometimes it feels like I didn't accomplish enough which I have to remember isn't true!

To celebrate this year let's take a look back at my top three most popular posts!




As you might know, earlier this year I made the resolution to eat vegan once a week. I am proud to say that I have stuck through that! I wasn't always vegan of Fridays, there might have been two weeks where I was vegan on Thursday. I learned a lot about the different types of animal products that go into foods and about how my own body responds to certain foods.

I will not become a full time vegan yet but I am going to try and avoid dairy and eat other animal products only occasionally. One thing that I am having difficulty with is  that sometimes I overindulge in things high in white flour, sugar, and fat. I'm not sure if this has to do with eating vegan or some other reason. My goal is to improve on this because sugar makes me tired!

I hope all of you had a great 2011 and will have an even better 2012!

Last year when I posted my recipe for Cranberry Filled Eggnog Cupcakes, many of you admitted to not liking eggnog. I have to admit that I was slightly taken aback by this. I don't understand how some do not like eggnog. Although, I do have to confess, I also cannot drink eggnog on its own. There's just something about it being so thick and sweet. I still love the taste and creaminess eggnog brings to things!

Christmas is almost here and you know what that means?
Cookies!



I can't wait to bake and sample multiple cookies. For me the quintessential Christmas cookie has to be filled with spices. Of course there's the traditional gingerbread cookie which is lovely and delicious but I don't always like to go traditional.

This year it feels like Christmas has come too quickly. I love Christmas and I can't believe that I have had no time to enjoy all of my favorite things about it and I still have one more exam left!